Perfect Toy records are demonstrating that they have an ear for quality straight ahead jazz. With the debut of The Cosmic Groove Orchestra’s “Time Has Come”, they display their spiritual side as well. “Time Has Come” is a melodic collection of spiritual sublime jazz that would make Alice Coltrane proud. Alice receives mention here not only for the wonderful work on harp by Kathrin Pechlof but for the meditative serene soundscapes the band creates on each track. Pechlof’s playing blends in perfectly with Jerker Kluge’s work on electric bass on “Walzer For LLse Proskauer”. I’m not sure who’s playing the violin on this track but they sound great nonetheless. “Shelter” is another gem due to the superb work by Kluge once again on electric bass. Matthias Gmelin is tremendous throughout on drums but on “You Know, You Know” his playing really stands out. Overall this is a solid record that you can certainly embrace from start to finish. The Cosmic Groove Orchestra has skillfully created a record that will relax your mind and soothe your soul.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

Georg Levin’s second solo project follows up his critically acclaimed debut “Can’t Hold Back”. “Everything Must Change” provides more of that soulful flavor, this time with some pop rhythms mixed in for good measure. The selections here contain the right balance of electronic beats and live instrumentation that allows you to enjoy repeated listens. The disc starts off with “Need To Understand”, a pleasing mid-tempo tune that starts out as a boogie tune and then shifts into a laidback groove. The title track is a funky synth laden number with strings that harkens back to the danceable beats of the eighties. Georg is joined by Clara Hill on the upbeat disco flavored “The Better Life”. “Time to Reenact” gives an indication of a Georg Levin live set. The song is carried through with a funky rhythm guitar and live drums and proves that Georg can work seamlessly either in the studio or on the stage. While Georg’s voice isn’t overpowering, they’re tailor made for his compositions. Overall, “Everything Must Change” sparkles with good vibes and slick production. Not a bad song on the album, you can easily add this to the track list of your next party or groove to it during an afternoon drive. You’ll be glad you did.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

Anyone who has ever listened to pianist Neil Cowley can easily recognize that he is a special talent. He was a child prodigy who has become a force to be reckoned with. Like his previous two releases “Displaced” and “Loud Louder Stop”, this record provides more of his signature classical pop flavored compositions which are enhanced by the intensity he puts into each song. Neil’s orchestral arrangements are lively and engaging. The fun begins with “Monoface”, a track that starts out with a haunting intro and then progresses into a dynamic performance by the ensemble that is full of power and precision. Drummer Evan Jenkins cymbal playing effortlessly complements Neil’s thunderous chordal displays and solo offerings. “Gerald” is a fast paced number that displays the trio’s versatility and range. This is a playful pop tune that displays Neil’s enormous chops. The finale “Portal” is a wonderful fourteen minute cinematic gem that showcases Neil’s talented compositional skills. The song starts out with simmering melody before it bursts with great intensity, only to wind down into a lovely ballad. This isn’t your typical jazz record and probably shouldn’t be categorized as one either. Just sit back and enjoy listening to a trio that is clearly having fun here stretching songs in areas they haven’t been before. You will have fun listening to the results.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

The meaning behind the name Collage is exactly what you might expect, a diverse collection of musical elements. In the case of Collage the group hailing from Estonia , they have assembled an infusion of pop, folk and classical music aptly called Estonian Folk, a nod to the group’s homeland roots. The amazing thing here is that this is a reissue, a recording from the late 60’s that would easily fit in with any current recording of today. Estonia is located on the outskirts of the Soviet Union and is also the location of the Talinn Conservatory School of music, where a group of students was recruited by Ravio Dikson. The results are a peaceful blend of world music. Some of the standout tracks are “Petis Peiu”, a Brazilian flavored tune. “Vastalaul” begins with collective harmonies that would make the Manhattan Transfer proud and then glides into a folk flavored samba. “Ehted Kadunud” is a mid-tempo soul groover with funky rhythm guitar licks. ”Tutar Nubab Ema” is a warm modal jazz ballad that features superb flute playing over a seductive piano melody. Never mind that the tracks here are sung in Finnish. The melodies of the music and the vocal harmonies provide a pleasant listening experience no matter language barriers may exist, not to mention an insight into the musical Estonian musical history. This is certainly worth checking out.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

After sprinkling several singles over the past year, LA’s Dam Funk releases his much anticipated debut “Toeachizown”. Dam Funk has crafted a funk album that features 80’s synth arrangements reminiscent of pioneers like Zapp, Cameo and a little touch of Prince. The difference is that he has successfully composed his own signature modern funk sound that he can call his own. “Toeachizown” takes on many different moods, from earthy mid-tempo grooves to up-tempo in your face funk. There’s many tracks to savor such as the ambient “Come on Outside” which displays his wizardry with drum programming. “Brookside Park” is a near 10 minute instrumental that would be the perfect leisurely drive jam on a lazy afternoon. “Searchin’ 4 funk’s future” gives a nod to Dam’s love house music. Just imagine Mr Fingers laying down some G-funk and this might be the result. Like past funkateers before him, Dam Funk also proves to be a very capable balladeer, as evidenced on the track “I wanna thank you for”. Overall, “Toeachizown” succeeds by revitalizing a piece of the boogie funk grooves of the past and making it sound relevant today. This is very enjoyable and refreshing debut by an artist poised to make a lot of noise in 2010.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

Kira Neris made a big splash with the 2007 release of “Behind closed doors”, sampling jazz standards and arranging them with dance and house flavored grooves. He picks up where he left off with “A frozen second”, another beautiful collection of edited nu-jazz compositions. Kira starts things off with “Judy in June”, a mid-tempo nu-jazz groover that features warm female vocals dancing over a simple yet poignant piano melody. “Shivering Waltz” is aptly named for its dreamy hush like arrangements. “Rush!” is a foot stomping dance floor gem complemented with sampled piano riffs and warm string arrangements. “Damage!” is a futuristic house track with a hypnotic groove and a funky male vocal hook that repeats the verse “take it and do whatcha wanna do”. Kira Neris’s production talents and his affection for various musical genres are evident and a boon for the listener. This is another wonderful release filled with songs that would fit nicely in a club, a lounge or in your living room. Listen and enjoy.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

Fat Freddy’s Drop has already achieved rock star status in their native New Zealand and continues to attract large crowds throughout Europe. Now with their second full length release “Dr Boondigga and The Big BW”, the seven piece band aim for world wide recognition and based on this recording, they may be ready to pull it off. The band’s musical style is an amalgamation of reggae, dub, soul and funk and the musical acumen throughout the group is impressive considering that each member has played vital roles in various groups before merging into this band. The production and horn arrangements shine on the opening track, “Big BW”, a mid-tempo soulful number augmented by the falsetto voice of Joe Dukie, who blesses all remaining tunes as well. “Shiverman” is a ten minute jam session that starts off with a funky electric guitar riffs and features Hopepa on Trombone. “The Raft” is a reggae/dub number complete with a thumping bass line that would be just an average tune if it were performed by a lesser band. Instead the musicianship of this group and Dukie’s vocal abilities make this a bona fide winner.  “The Camel” starts out with a wicked improvised electric guitar solo before settling into a funky mid-tempo groove that provides plenty of space for Joe Dukie and special guest Alice Russell to glide over. One listen of this cd will have you checking the FFD website for tour dates. As great as this record will sound coming through your speakers, the experience of hearing them live will cement your admiration for this talented band for years to come. Highly recommended.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

Without question, there are more than a handful of folks that doubted that Disco would still be relevant yet here we are thirty years later and Disco still has a home in the hearts of many. You can thank artists like Al Kent for giving it the respect it deserves. Fresh off his project with the Million Dollar Orchestra, Al pays tribute to the genre and the DJ’s that made the music so beloved by many and a lightning rod for others with “Secret Sounds”. Al starts things off with an intro for an advertisement for hustle lessons, the featured dance from the early seventies that everyone tried to master with varying degrees of success. This is followed up with the synth flavored disco track “I like it”. “Come back home” is a soulful tune due in large part to Tyrone Taylor on vocals and laced with strings that would make Vince Montana proud. This is arguably the best track on the disc. Normally I don’t get caught up with interludes but in this case it does provide a service in paying respect to the DJ’s in general and to pioneers like Jellybean Benitez and Tee Scott in particular. The impact they had would set the tone for all the prominent DJ’s of today. Other notable tracks include “Get Funky” starts out with a simple keyboard melody before sequeing into a funky disco stomper with horns. “Reverb is your friend” is a sublime mid-tempo track that isn’t quite a disco track; instead it’s a lovely reverb instrumental that could fit nicely into any lounge today. The disc concludes with the percussion laden “Tenner Rap”, a surefire disco jam floor filler. Al Kent’s love for disco is unsurpassed and if you ever loved the music, you’ll appreciate his dedication and no doubt enjoy “Secret sounds”.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

It’s not uncommon for artists to explore various musical styles on separate projects but on “Double-Booked”, Robert Glasper brings two worlds together on one very impressive record. Glasper’s fourth release starts out in the traditional jazz trio setting and begins with “No Worries”. Robert starts this wonderful tune off with a entertaining intro before sequeing into a gorgeous melody. Drummer Chris Dave creates plenty of space and Vicente Archer always provides the right notes for Glasper’s glorious soundscapes. “59 South” is another lovely composition where Robert strikes the right balance between sheer power and delicacy. Things get a little funky as we segue to the experimental set. Robert starts things off with Herbie Hancock’s multi-rhythmic fusion gem “Butterfly”, which also features Casey Benjamin on the vocorder. Casey shines again on alto sax on the spirited aptly named “festival”. “All Matter” is a beautiful ballad that is augmented by the vocals of Bilal. There aren’t many discs out that can capture the essence of beauty on one hand and deliver the funk flavored deep grooves on another but this one does. This is one fabulous record that you shouldn’t miss.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy

Unless you took up residence on the moon two years ago, you surely were among those who celebrated a new voice in Jazz. With “The Dreamer”, Jose James serenaded jazz and non-jazz lovers with a voice not heard since the likes of Johnny Hartman. His velvet tone coupled with outstanding compositions made “The Dreamer” a huge hit. Two years later, Jose returns with “Black Magic” and it’s clear that he’s intent on not reinventing the wheel. Instead he steps out of the box and crafts a gorgeous disc filled with a variety of compositional styles that embarks on an exploration of deep spiritual love and the joy that it brings. The disc starts out with “Code”. The flying Lotus production is a down-tempo hypnotic groover that will have your head nodding within seconds. From this point on, love and sensuality permeates throughout the disc. “Touch” is an intimate portrayal of a man expressing his deep feelings for his mate. Pianist Gideon Van Gelder, who produced and arranged the tune, lays down a beautiful melody for Jose to work his eh, magic. No pun intended. “Promise You Love” is an up-tempo beat driven gem that’s produced by DJ Mitsu The Beats and features Jordana De Lovely on accompanying vocals and Takuya Kuroda on trumpet. “The greater Good” is a soft jazzy number that features precision horn arrangements as well as Gideon on fender Rhodes while Jose courts a woman who may ultimately be the special lady he desires. Jordana appears again on the Taylor McFerrin produced “Love Conversation”, a track that oozes warmth and sensitivity exchanged between two lovers. “No Tellin” may be the only track that resembles anything close to “The Dreamer”. Produced by James, this is a haunting ballad arranged in a trio format that also features him on piano as well. Whatever you do, don’t bother comparing the two discs. Clearly “Black Magic” stands on it’s own as an exceptional record by a rising star. Without a doubt you need this in your collection.

Reg Dancy

www.facebook.com/reg.dancy